Transit- oriented development: a step towards sustainable cities
- Vol.88(5-6), May-Jun
- Mumbai The Indian Institute of Architects 2023
- 10-15p.
Mobility has been fundamental component of the social and economic lives of the societies. Contemporary economic processes have been accompanied by a significant need for increased mobility and higher levels of accessibility. The burgeoning population has further placed a strain on urban mobility, spawning issues such as congestion, pollution, irritability, and accessibility, among others. In such a scenario, it is of significant importance to give a boost to developmental activities while maintaining sustainability. Developing transport systems has been a continuous challenge to satisfy mobility needs, support economic development, and participate in the global economy. The current transport systems are the outcome of a long historical evolution marked by periods of rapid change where new transport technologies were adopted. On the face of it, development corridors appear to be straightforward. But holistically, Transit-Oriented Development is the exciting, fast-growing trend in creating vibrant, liveable, sustainable communities. TOD is the creation of compact, walkable, pedestrian- oriented, mixed-use communities centred around high-quality transit systems. This makes it possible to live a lower-stress life without complete dependence on a car for mobility and survival.